- 0.1 micron filtration
- Removes 99.9999% E. coli & 99.9% Giardia & Crypto
- High flow rate
- Ultralight <1.2 oz (34 g)
- Use with wide mouth 42 mm threaded bladders/bottles
- CNOC & Hydrapak compatible
- Simple to clean – shake or swish, no backflushing
Katadyn® BeFree™ is an ultralight water filter with 0.1 micron filtration that’s so simple to clean. It removes 99.9999% of bacteria such as E. coli and 99.9% of protozoa including giardia and cryptosporidium, plus 100% of microplastics. No pumping required.
BeFree screws directly on wide mouth 42 mm threaded bladders/bottles, such as CNOC Vecto and Vesica, or Hydrapak. Add a water filter coupling to connect the output end to a 28 mm threaded bottle or bladder for squeeze filling or building a gravity filter.
Use on
- Water bladders, wide mouth 42 mm threaded
- Collapsible bottles, wide mouth 42 mm threaded
- Gravity filter systems
BeFree has an array of hollow fiber tubes with thousands of tiny 0.1 micron holes in the side wall that block 99.9999% of harmful bacteria including E. coli and 99.9% of protozoa including Giardia, protozoan cysts, and Cryptosporidium. All these organisms are too large to fit through the tiny holes. Water is drawn through the side walls of the tubes and down the center of the hollow core while harmful bacteria and protozoa stay trapped on the outside walls of the tube. The tubes are looped to substantially increase the surface area and ultimately the flow rate of the filter.
Regular cleaning will increase the lifespan of the filter. BeFree is the easiest filter to clean. Simply shake or swish. To shake, fill a bladder with fresh water, screw on the filter, and shake to clean the membrane. To swish, remove the filter from the water bladder/bottle and dip just the membrane portion in any fresh water source and swish it around. Since the membrane is exposed, particulate stuck on the outside of the tubes will be dislodged and float away. No extra parts are needed in the field or at home, just shake or swish.
Specifications
Filtration Pore Size: 0.1 micron
Removes
99.9999% of all bacteria - including E. coli, salmonella, and cholera
99.9% of all protozoa - including Giardia and Cryptosporidium
100% of all microplastics
Will not remove viruses or chemicals. Viruses are, generally, not found in North American water or in municipal water supplies around the world
Flow Rate: up to 2 L per min
Filter Life: up to 264 gal (1000 L) depending on water quality
Operating Temperature: 35-105° F (2-40° C), do not allow wetted filter to freeze
Material
Filter: Hollow fiber membrane
Housing: Plastic
Snap-Top Cap: Plastic
Dimensions (Dia x L): ø1.95 x 4.28 in. (ø49.4 x 108.7 mm)
Weight
Filter Dry: 1.03 oz (29.1 g), without snap-top cap
Snap-Top Cap: 0.16 oz (4.6 g)
Filter Dry with Cap: 1.19 oz (33.7 g)
Thread
Input: 42 mm female
Output: 28 mm male
Made in Switzerland
User Manual
FAQ
Will this work on standard plastic bottles, like Smartwater, LIFEWTR, Aquafina, and Desani?
No. BeFree will only work on water bottles with a wide mouth 42 mm thread such as CNOC Vesica.
Will this work on water bladders, like Platypus, Evernew, and CNOC Vecto?
Yes and No. BeFree will only work on water bladders with a wide mouth 42 mm thread such as CNOC Vecto and Hydropak. BeFree will NOT work on narrow mouth 28 mm water bladders such as Platypus, Evernew, and CNOC.
Will this work with hydration reservoirs, like CamelBak?
No.
Can I filter cloudy, muddy, silty, glacial stream, or tea-colored water?
Filter the cleanest, clearest water available. Cloudy, muddy, silty, glacial stream, and tea-colored water will clog the filter faster.
Can I filter sea water or chemical-contaminated water?
The filter does not make potable water from sea water or chemical-contaminated water. It does not remove chemicals, pesticides, radioactive materials, or particles smaller than 0.1 microns. Do not filter water from mine tailing ponds or near agricultural operations as they may contain chemicals.
How often should I clean the filter?
It is recommended to shake or swish the filter every 5 L to prevent build up and maintain a high flow rate. To shake, fill a water bladder with fresh water, attach the filter, and shake to clean the hollow membrane. To swish, remove the filter from the water bladder/bottle and dip just the membrane portion in any fresh water source and swish it around. Do NOT allow the drink nozzle to contact a contaminated water source. Do NOT rinse the membrane horizontally under running water as this can damage the membrane.
When should the filter be replaced?
Replace the filter when the flow rate drops significantly, and cleaning no longer increases the flow rate.
What happens if the filter freezes?
Water expands as it freezes, so any residual water left in the filter will damage the hollow fiber tubes when frozen. Do not use the filter if water has frozen inside the filter. To prevent freezing in the backcountry, shake as much water out as possible and keep the filter near your body and sleep with the filter.
Can I disinfect the filter in a dishwasher or microwave?
Never use a dishwasher or microwave to disinfect the filter because the high heat will damage or melt the filter membrane.
Should I disinfect the filter before storing?
Disinfect the filter before long-term storage to prevent microbiological growth within the hollow membrane and ensure continued fresh tasting water. Fill a container with filtered water and add 4 drops of household bleach, free of dyes or perfumes. Pour the bleach solution into a water bladder and screw on the filter. Squeeze the entire amount of bleach water through the filter. Disassemble and allow to air dry completely before storage. After long-term storage, flush the system with 2 L of filtered water to remove any stale tasting water prior to use.
- Read, understand, and follow all instructions and cautions before using filter. Improper use increases risk of exposure to harmful microorganisms and increases risk of gastrointestinal illness.
- DO NOT use to filter sea water or chemical-contaminated water. Filter does not remove chemicals, pesticides, radioactive materials, or particles smaller than 0.1 microns. Do NOT filter water from mine tailing ponds or near agricultural operations as they may contain chemicals.
- Discard the first few ounces of water on first use.
- Keep inlet end away from filtered water to prevent cross contamination.
- DO NOT allow water to freeze inside filter. DO NOT use filter if water has frozen inside the filter.
- DO NOT use a dishwasher or microwave to disinfect filter. High heat will damage or melt filter medium.
- DO NOT drop filter. Dropping may damage filtration medium and render it unusable.
- DO NOT allow use by children without adult supervision.
In no event shall Litesmith, LLC be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, or special consequential damages, to property or life, whatsoever arising out of or connected with the use or misuse of its products.
